3 ms·

The United States is a very large place. I currently live somewhere relatively civilized. Here, I have a permit for concealed carry but I never actually carry.

The United States is a very large place. I currently live somewhere relatively civilized. Here, I have a permit for concealed carry but I never actually carry. In a past life, I lived somewhere much less civilized. There, I carried (either open or concealed) as a matter of course in my daily life. While I was always cognizant of where I was allowed to carry and where not, I never removed my gun unless legally required to do so. This is both a simple matter of convenience and a practical matter of security, as a gun on my person is inherently more secure than a gun stored in my vehicle, even though it was doubly locked while in the vehicle.

scarface_74 3y ago
I always wondered this. If someone meant to do you harm with a gun, what are the chances that they would give you the opportunity to defend yourself? The perpetrator would already be prepared and you wouldn’t.
- 0xffff2 3y ago
  Well it depends. Part of the reason I was/am comfortable carrying is because I have the appropriate professional training to do so safely. Both as a result of that training and as a matter of habit, it is possible to be cognizant of potential interactions and mostly not put yourself in situations where conflict is likely. In other words, part of responsibly carrying is to always be prepared. In the event I find myself in such a situation anyway, there's a good chance the other party won't know I'm armed unless I want them to. As for the rest of the time, I think potential aggressors as both dumber and more emotional than you're imagining. I've never come remotely close to shooting anyone, but the times I've had to actively think about it were because I people were acting in a way that telegraph ill intent long before they were in a position to do anything to me.
  - scarface_74 3y ago
    My wife and I are doing the whole “digital nomad” thing across the US half the year for the foreseeable future. I’ve walked around liberal lead cities where conservatives swear it’s dangerous because of homelessness (Seattle, San Francisco) and cities in conservative states (Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Charleston , etc). I’ve lived in small town GA, a few cities around Metro Atlanta and worked in a few others. I can honestly say I have never in 50 years felt unsafe anywhere I’ve been and I can’t imagine me by myself carrying would make me feel safer against a possible ambush. Not to mention that according to CDC statistics, gun violence is the 50th leading cause of death in the US and most of that is either suicide or being killed by someone you know. I’m more likely to die from hamburgers and too much salt than anything carrying could prevent.
    - rahimnathwani 3y ago
      A few days ago, someone was walking along the Bay Bridge (between SF and the East Bay) shooting a gun at random cars. IIRC the cars were stuck in traffic, so avoidance was no use. In that situation, would you feel safer with or without a gun? Maybe safer because you could quickly immobilize the shooter? Maybe less safe because you'd feel an obligation to attempt an intervention, but doing so could draw attention (and draw fire)?
      - scarface_74 3y ago
        And then when the police come not know who the actual perpetrator is and/or worry about somebody who thinks they are the “good guy with a gun” shooting and hitting an innocent bystander? But you noticed on the other hand that I am focused on what I believe is the statistical futility of carrying a gun and not focused on having one in your car or home? If someone came into my home where I’m laying next to my wife - the only other person who should be in my home - and my alarm went off that’s a completely different scenario. While I can suspect someone in public is meant to do my harm, I’m going to assume anyone who breaks into my house is trying to do me harm and I don’t have to worry about either police or the Justice system not believing me.
    - 0xffff2 3y ago
      Okay. Good for you. Your experience does not match my own at all.

scarface_74 3y ago

I always wondered this. If someone meant to do you harm with a gun, what are the chances that they would give you the opportunity to defend yourself? The perpetrator would already be prepared and you wouldn’t.

0xffff2 3y ago
Well it depends. Part of the reason I was/am comfortable carrying is because I have the appropriate professional training to do so safely. Both as a result of that training and as a matter of habit, it is possible to be cognizant of potential interactions and mostly not put yourself in situations where conflict is likely. In other words, part of responsibly carrying is to always be prepared. In the event I find myself in such a situation anyway, there's a good chance the other party won't know I'm armed unless I want them to. As for the rest of the time, I think potential aggressors as both dumber and more emotional than you're imagining. I've never come remotely close to shooting anyone, but the times I've had to actively think about it were because I people were acting in a way that telegraph ill intent long before they were in a position to do anything to me.
- scarface_74 3y ago
  My wife and I are doing the whole “digital nomad” thing across the US half the year for the foreseeable future. I’ve walked around liberal lead cities where conservatives swear it’s dangerous because of homelessness (Seattle, San Francisco) and cities in conservative states (Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Charleston , etc). I’ve lived in small town GA, a few cities around Metro Atlanta and worked in a few others. I can honestly say I have never in 50 years felt unsafe anywhere I’ve been and I can’t imagine me by myself carrying would make me feel safer against a possible ambush. Not to mention that according to CDC statistics, gun violence is the 50th leading cause of death in the US and most of that is either suicide or being killed by someone you know. I’m more likely to die from hamburgers and too much salt than anything carrying could prevent.
  - rahimnathwani 3y ago
    A few days ago, someone was walking along the Bay Bridge (between SF and the East Bay) shooting a gun at random cars. IIRC the cars were stuck in traffic, so avoidance was no use. In that situation, would you feel safer with or without a gun? Maybe safer because you could quickly immobilize the shooter? Maybe less safe because you'd feel an obligation to attempt an intervention, but doing so could draw attention (and draw fire)?
    - scarface_74 3y ago
      And then when the police come not know who the actual perpetrator is and/or worry about somebody who thinks they are the “good guy with a gun” shooting and hitting an innocent bystander? But you noticed on the other hand that I am focused on what I believe is the statistical futility of carrying a gun and not focused on having one in your car or home? If someone came into my home where I’m laying next to my wife - the only other person who should be in my home - and my alarm went off that’s a completely different scenario. While I can suspect someone in public is meant to do my harm, I’m going to assume anyone who breaks into my house is trying to do me harm and I don’t have to worry about either police or the Justice system not believing me.
  - 0xffff2 3y ago
    Okay. Good for you. Your experience does not match my own at all.